SB 5118: Relating to access to original birth certificates after adoption finalization

Status Summary

Legislative Session

Status

Sponsor

Sponsored by Senator Carrell, SB 5118 states that for all adoptions, unless the birth parent has filed an affidavit of nondisclosure, the Department of Health shall make a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate available to the adoptee after the adoptee’s 18th birthday. This includes adoptions finalized before October 1, 1993, which is a change to the existing RCW. In addition, birth parents who do file an affidavit of nondisclosure may later choose to file an affidavit indicating their consent to disclose.

Substitute bill: The substitute bill removed the affidavit of non-disclosure and instead included the option for a birth parent to complete a contact preference form. The bill also now allows the DOH to charge a fee not to exceed $20 for providing a copy of the original birth certificate.

As amended on the Senate floor: DSHS will provide a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate at the request of adult adoptees, unless the birth parent has filed an affidavit of confidentiality or a contact preference form that indicates he or she prefers not to be contacted. If a birth parent completes a contact preference form, he or she must also file a medical history form, which will be provided at the request of the adoptee regardless of whether or not the birth parent wishes to be contacted and will not include any identifying information about the birth parent. The contact preference form expires upon the death of the birth parent